Humane Society of Catawba County
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VOLUNTEER HOURS
Monday through Friday 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Saturday 10 p.m.-4 p.m.

Our volunteers are greatly appreciated!  From dog walking to cat cuddling, helping with our mounds of laundry, showcasing shelter animals off-site or baking cakes and cookies for fundraising events, we would be struggling without our wonderful group of volunteers!  Our many volunteer opportunities work well with every schedule and time constraint. Take a look at the volunteer opportunities below. 

To become a Volunteer follow these steps:
  • attend a Session 1 - General Info Orientation (click here to see our calendar)
  • fill out a Volunteer Application
  • become a member of Humane Society of Catawba County (click here for details)
  • attend at least one other job specific orientation (i.e. Dog Walking, Cat Cuddling)
  • receive a Volunteer t-shirt
  • start volunteering! 

     

Download our volunteer application

(you must have Adobe Reader in order to open the application)

Volunteer Application (16 years old+)

V.I.P. Application (10-15 Years Old)

 **The V.I.P. (Volunteers In Pairs) Program welcomes children ages 10 – 15 with a parent / guardian over age 21. V.I.P. Teams must stay together at all times. Most volunteer jobs are available for V.I.P. teams, please see the job descriptions for age limits.

VOLUNTEER JOB DESCRIPTIONS 

Please read over each volunteer job description and its requirements. Let us know where you think you would like to spend your time. Many volunteers choose to work in more than one capacity, which is wonderful!

Volunteering at an animal shelter can be fast paced, emotional and very rewarding.  The duties you perform will directly benefit the animals. The animals you will see and care for will be with us an average of 4-6 weeks until we find them a responsible, loving home. You must focus on what you can do to make their time with the Humane Society as comfortable and pleasant as possible. 

Job Title:     Dog Walking Volunteer

Goal: The goal of the Dog Walking Volunteer is to ensure that the dogs get fresh air and exercise daily.

Time Commitment: At least 2 hours per week for a minimum of six months 

Available Times: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday thru Friday

Duties: Basic duties include potty breaks (poop scooping included), exercise, basic obedience training, hands-on socialization, minor grooming and kennel cleaning. ONLY dogs with a kennel card AND a walking clip may be taken out by a volunteer. We DO NOT WALK puppies unless they have been fully vaccinated (3 rounds) and approved to go outside by the Animal Services Manager.

Training: Completion of the volunteer orientation and dog walker training.

Qualifications: Must be at least 16 years of age.  Must have good physical strength and the ability to handle animals that are shy or rambunctious.  Must be able to work independently and adhere to all HSCC safety and animal handling regulations.

Job Title:     Cat Cuddler 

Duties: Cat cuddler volunteers spend the most time with shelter cats one-on-one.

Basic duties include taking approved cats to a play room, observation, hands-on socialization and grooming. We DO NOT TOUCH any kittens unless they have been fully vaccinated (3 rounds) and approved for handling by the Animal Services Manager.

Training: Completion of volunteer orientation and cat cuddling training.

Qualifications: Must be at least 16 years of age.  Must have good physical strength and the ability to handle animals that are shy or rambunctious. They must be able to work independently and adhere to all HSCC safety and animal handling regulations. 

Job Title: Pet Assisted Therapy

Time Commitment: Two or more hours (depending on location).  Each location is scheduled on the same day and same time each month (i.e. the first Tuesday of a month at 2:00) with the same “team” visiting each time.

Duties: Pet Assisted Therapy involves taking animals to care centers, retirement homes and nursing homes for therapeutic interaction with residents. Some sites have a specific location for visits and some require visiting room to room. Not only is it therapy for residents, but also therapy and a great way to social the animals. It gives us information about the animals that we are able to use and share in their adoption process. Team members will meet at the shelter, sign in and receive the name of animals chosen for Pet Assisted Therapy that day. The animals are given exercise and potty breaks prior to their visit. Volunteers are responsible for the transportation care and clean-up of the animals while away. We are expected to be punctual Many locations have schedules. If you cannot make the scheduled appointment please let the Volunteer Manager & your team member know and/or contact another Pet Assisted Therapy volunteer as a replacement.


Qualifications: Completion of Volunteer Orientation, Dog Walking, Cat Cuddling and Pet Therapy training. You must have a valid driver’s license and a vehicle to transport the animals.

Job Title:     Shelter/Clerical Volunteer

Duties: Shelter/Clerical volunteers provide much needed assistance to HSCC staff and help the animals in many different ways. Duties may include laundry, spot cleaning, greeting & directing visitors, working in the Retail Area, assisting Adoption Counselors or Animal Services, and clerical duties such as helping with fliers pamphlets, mailings, paperwork and computer entry.

Training: Completion of Volunteer Orientation, Dog Walking or Cat Cuddling training and on-the-job training. 

Qualifications: Must be at least 16 years of age. You must enjoy working with a wide variety of people, have good organizational skills and be able to work independently and in a team environment.

Job Title:     Community Outreach Volunteer

Time Commitment: On call as needed for Outreach Events such as school visits & programs, summer camps, group visits, parties, street fairs & festival booths, fundraising events, parades, PetSmart adoptions, etc. 

Duties: As experienced volunteers, you will act as ambassadors. Duties include educating the community on services and programs offered at HSCC, passing out literature & HSCC publications, answering animal related questions, soliciting donations, organizing & working fund raisers and ensuring the community knows the value of the Humane Society’s services.

Training: Must complete volunteer orientation, dog walking or cat cuddling training and on-the-job training.

Qualifications: Must be at least 16 years of age.  Must possess excellent communication skills and enjoy interacting with large groups and varieties of people.  Must be able to work independently or in a team environment.

Job Title:     Foster Care Provider

Training: Completion of the volunteer orientation, Dog Walking and/or Cat Cuddling training, and Foster Care training.

Qualifications: Must be 18 years of age. Foster care volunteers must be willing and able to take animals into their homes. You must be able to make the commitment to provide specialized care if needed for short or extended periods of time. You must be able to work independently but be able to follow exact instructions. Foster Care Providers report directly to the Animal Services Manager. You must provide all transportation for your foster animals to and from the veterinarian’s office and the Humane Society. Foster Care Providers MUST abide by the Foster Care procedures!

Job Title:     Committee Volunteers

Time Commitment: Usually a one-hour meeting a month plus the time you commit to getting the committee work done.

Committees include:

1. Special Events: Assist with events and programs to help raise funding for the HSCC and assist with marketing the shelter.

2. Golf Tournament Committee: Our annual golf tournament is held every fall. The committee meets regularly to organize the details.

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Every Dog, Every Day! 

The dogs at HSCC want your attention...Daily walks provide exercise and can really help with socializing in preparation for adoption. We also have a brand new fenced area where the dogs can run and play! Contact our Volunteer Manager and sign up to be a friend to our grateful poochies...
Cat Cuddling!  

Our friendly felines really appreciate our volunteers, too!  Take them to one of our cat cuddling rooms for quality play-time, brushing,  toy time, and more.  If you are more of a "cat person", our kitties always appreciate the attention! Contact our Volunteer Manager for more information.
Volunteer opportunities range from setting up tables at our off-site events, to helping adopt our wonderful cats and dogs on weekends at PetsMart, PETCO, or painting flower pots for the Spring Show. You can also sell limes at Hickory Alive or take animals to nursing homes for Pet Assisted Therapy. We are always in need of your help!

If you have a green thumb, you can assist with landscaping outside the facility or washing and folding our mass amounts of laundry, we can always use you!  We need you!

Some volunteers sign up to assist with adoptions at PetsMart, PETCO, our shelter, some enjoy showing off our Cat Board and retail items at our off-site events.  Help the HSCC cats and dogs in numerous ways.

Become a HSCC volunteer today!